A Man of Distinction by Sarah M. Anderson

Author:Sarah M. Anderson [Anderson, Sarah M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-08-06T21:00:00+00:00

Nine

Something just beyond Nick’s grasp shifted, like there was someone watching him. Then the smell hit him—souring milk and…biscuits? Where was he? Although his head screamed in protest, he managed to pry one eye open.

Bear’s face was less than a foot from his. The little boy had both a thumb and the ear to his teddy bear crammed into his mouth, and he was wearing a Onesie. When he saw Nick’s eye open, his eyes smiled for him and he threw himself at Nick’s head.

“Oof,” was all Nick could say as the boy climbed up and sat on him. “What time is it?”

“Seven,” Tanya called from the kitchen. She sounded awake. Perky, even. “Which, you should know, is considered ‘sleeping in’ to a toddler.”

Seven? As in, the morning? Nick shut his eye again. This had to be a bad dream. In Chicago, he spent Saturday nights out on the town and rarely got into bed much before three on Sunday mornings. If he was lucky, he got up in time for lunch. True, he hadn’t been out on the town last night, but he’d exerted himself in plenty of other ways that required at least another hour of sleep. Preferably two.

Then the thin string of baby drool hit him on the cheek. “I’m up, I’m up,” he mumbled, hauling Bear off his chest and sitting up. “Morning, Bear.”

Bear smiled at him again, and Nick decided he didn’t mind getting up early. At least everyone here was happy to see him. That hadn’t always been the case when he’d spent the night with Rissa in Chicago. Then the little boy scrambled down and tottered his way back to the bedroom.

Finally, Nick got both of his eyes to focus, and he saw Tanya. Still barefoot, still in that short nightgown, her legs almost glowing in the early-morning sunlight that streamed in through the window over the sink. Her hair hung loose down her back as she stood over the stove, and Nick thought she might be humming. “Good morning,” he said again. “When did you get up?” Because the last thing he remembered was falling asleep with her in his arms on the couch. The couch had been better than the truck, but it still wasn’t as good as an actual bed. They were definitely going to spend the next weekend at his place.

Tanya looked at him over her shoulder and gave him a grin that was both innocent and entirely too wicked at the same time. “About forty-five minutes ago. I let you sleep. Breakfast is almost ready.” She turned with a skillet in hand and the scent of sausage smacked him upside the head. Man, he was hungry.

Bear came back out of the bedroom pulling a ratty-looking blanket and the first book Nick had read to him, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

“After breakfast, little man,” Nick told him as he picked up the boy and attempted to put him in his high chair. “Food first.”

A profound sense of peace overcame him.

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